The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-16
REGULATE, DO NOT PROHIBIT.

In this contest the prohibitionists ar
not fighting intoxicating liquors, but tn
ultimate result of their extravsgant use
the abuse of Intoxicating liquors. Notice
, the prohibitionist in his talk; he does no
} speak of drinking" but of drunkenness;
be does not point out the criminal use OF
the social glass, but the crimes committed
by besotted men and the misery OF their
families, reduced TO poverty and want
he does not and cannot mean that drink
ing, per Sc, is criminal, or should be snip
pressed by law, but what he is after Is 10
curtail the misery that excessive use of
intoxicating liquors produces; to lop on
the violations of the law by saloon keep
ers when they serve liquors in excess to
men habitual drunkards' men crlmlnally
inclined, and when they sell liquor upon
days prescribed by public policy.
This is as far as true pro-
hibitionist can go; and thus far The
STATESMAN is for prohibition. But when
it is attempted to say no one shall drink
intoxicating liquors, no one shall manu-
facture them even for his individual use,
no one shall in any way deal in them, then
we part company and are strictly anti
prohibition. We are for law and order
first, last and all the time. We believe the
laws regulating saloons should be strictly
enforced, and believe that it is because
saloon men have not obeyed these laws
with the strictness they should, is one
cause of the present liquor question agita-
ton. Public policy has decreed that on
certain legal holidays saloons shall be
closed, that inducements and opportuni
ties to bride by drinks shall not be at
hand. Public policy has decreed that on
Sunday, when idleness of the working
classes gives them chance to loaf in saloons,
and, in sheer want of other occupation al
lowing them to be seduced into an excess of
drinking, that otherwise they would not in
dulge in, the saloons shall be closed. These
laws should be strictly inforced. Other
laws of a police nature have been enacted;
let them be carried out by the authorities
to the letter, and two-thirds of the COM
plants against the saloons will be oblit-
Grated. Read the history of the liquor
legislation of Michigan, printed elsewhere
this morning. Therein will be found
remedy for the evils mplained of by the
prohibitionists. Tax saloons higher;
weed out the low dives; make the saloons
conduct legitimate business in accord
auce with law. Embody in the law the
Michigan provision, as follows: "The
law of 1875 also provided that the whisky
seller should give bond in the sum of not
less than $1,000, that he would not sell to |
a minor, drunken person, person who
was in the habit of getting drunk, or to
any person to whom he had been forbid
den to sell. The bond required payment
of actual and exemplary damages arising |
from such sale; also of actual and exem-
plary damages arising from any act which |
a person to whom he sold liquor
did while under the infu-
ence of liquor Make the saloon
business a responsible business; decrease
the number of saloons by imposing
higher license, and then see that they |
obey the laws. All this the state has a |
right to do. 1t has no right to say man
can not manufacture beer, wine or whisky.
1t has no right to say man shall not sell
whisky, beer or wine, if he sells it under
legal authority. To attempt to change
the organic law of the state, to meet this
case, is an acknowledgment of the weak
ness of the prohibition position.